From the right or left, hypocrisy smells the same. Foul.

Can someone  -- anyone -- please explain to me why there seem to be these weird cycles of crazy right at the point where it's least welcome? Not that crazy is particularly unusual in the political sphere, but seriously...there's some whacked things going on lately.

Take, for example, the treatment of 11-year old Marcelas Owens. Marcelas is in the news because he lost his 27-year old mom to pulmonary hypertension last year. 27 years old. Let's talk about that for a minute, because the fact that she died for lack of access to health care isn't a function of her being poor, or a single mom.

She had no access to health insurance, and by extension, health care, because she was not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid, she was employed but had been let go because her health kept her from working the hours she was expected to work, and her health insurance went when her job went.

She could get insurance for her kids under the SCHIP program, presumably. She may even have been eligible for food stamps. But she could not get insurance for herself because she had the temerity to have worked for a living.

Got that, teapeople? She worked for a living. Did the things that people are supposed to do, despite a debilitating health condition. Here's what pulmonary hypertension is: a slow strangling of lung function. Walking up a set of stairs can leave a person winded when they have it. Over time, that becomes chest pain, which can ultimately result in congestive heart failure and death.

She was 27 years old. She had 3 children. She worked in a food establishment waiting on people. Part-time. She made too much money to qualify for welfare and not enough money to pay for her doctor bills. Ultimately she died and left 3 orphaned children behind.

The eldest, Marcelas, was bold enough to walk up to Senator Patty Murray at a rally in Washington state and tell his story. That led to him making a trip to Washington DC this week to speak out on behalf of health care reform and passing the bill. Here's the video. See if you can watch without tearing up:

What makes me crazy about this is how deeply mean, mendacious and menacing the right-wing is toward an 11-year old child. A child. Michelle Malkin gets the Harpy of the Day award for this gem:

...the Democrats have resurrected the kiddie human shield strategy to salvage their health care takeover plans.

Just. wow. This would be the same Michelle Malkin who claims to believe in all children's right to life? I see. It's totally fine with her that three children are orphaned for lack of access to health insurance (either because of cost or exclusion), because in her cynical, sick little pea-sized brain, Marcelas is telling his story to function as a human shield for Harry Reid. Malkin sees nothing wrong with marginalizing Marcelas for her own cynical opinionating spew.

Alrighty then. This is the conservative hypocrisy that just drives me mad.  Please, they say, think of the children, the unborn, the possibilities. Yet those same children are mocked and ridiculed when they stand up for themselves. Sheer, cynical, cold hypocrisy. There's a market for that lately. Free to whoever will suck it up.

But it's not only the Malkins and her ilk that make me crazy. On the other side of the spectrum, we have Stupak, Kucinich, and the invisible Catholic Bishops. We've talked about Stupak at length. He is irrelevant at this point. So let's talk about Kucinich.

Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) voted no on the House version of health care reform, which had a weak, but existent public option. Now he says he will vote no on the Senate version of health care reform because it has no public option, even though it contains a provision allowing states to adopt single-payer plans if they wish, which was why he originally voted against the House version. Follow that? He's getting what he originally wanted but he has no problem killing it anyway.

Now, I have a theory about Rep. Kucinich that goes like this. Until 2002, he was virulently anti-choice. He is a staunch Catholic and voted rigidly against anything that preserved abortion rights for women. But in 2002-2003, he had a miraculous transformation and became pro-choice. Just like that, and just in time for a run at the Presidency.

Since then, he hasn't really had to step up and stand for women's choices. Clearly he didn't have to when Republicans were in the majority, and he doesn't have to as long as he's got Stupak out there willing to take the hit on the choice issue. As long as Stupak holds, he can simply say the bill isn't pure enough, or progressive enough, or it doesn't have a public option or a strong enough public option or single payer for states or whatever other purity test he designs as an excuse to vote it down.

This is when my political radar goes whack. I start growing moderate horns and head-butting with purity trolls on the one side, cynical teapeople on the other. Both of them seem to refuse to understand what passing this bill means to people like Marcelas, or me, or my neighbor, or any one of the people in the emergency room who had no insurance or way to pay for their treatment in Erin's story on the day of the health care summit.

What is it going to take to get this message across? How many more people have to die today before it sinks in? When can we open the windows and chase away the stench of hypocritical, dishonest arguments? Will the House pass the bill? Will the Senate pass the reconciliation package? Who knows. And honestly? I am starting to hate the words "public option". They've become a sky god full of lightning bolts waiting to kill health reform from our own side of the aisle.

We must do this. Pass. the. damn. bill. Now. 

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Comments

[Cynematic]

I wish I could give Marcelas a big hug. Brave kid.

Pass the freakin' bill.

[Julie Pippert]

That kid makes my throat all lumpy. Brave, courageous little boy. Breaks my heart.

I have never felt as much disgust for so many elected officials as I do now. Pass the bill and cut the posturing and campaigning. I don't know if they can see this past their egos, but this isn't about them. It's about us.

[PunditMom/Joanne Bamberger]

As one abortion protestor told me one time when I was a reporter covering such events, "Once they're born, they're not our responsibility."

Protecting a life is before it's born is precious, but protecting that life once they're in this world, not so much. Hypocrites.

[jaelithe]

Also, let us not forget that Republicans OFTEN bring children into political debates as spokespeople. For example, consider President Bush speaking alongside snowflake children (kids who were adopted as embryos): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake_childrenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake_children

And Sarah Palin holds Trig up everywhere as a symbol of her political beliefs (which unfortunately do not seem to extend to actually helping children with special needs get better access to health care).

[Karoli]

Jaelithe, even more cynical than her shameless pimping of Trig: The fact that their entire family qualifies for, and at least one of them is using, government-run 'socialized' health care. Not to mention her visit to Canada for health care.

You know, at this point we all know how bankrupt they are. There are no arguments; the debate is past. Every day that passes gives them a platform to just spew more junk to pollute search engines and minds. The dems need to grow a pair and just pass it. now.

[Kevin]

I'm lost.

You claim she was not poor enough for medicaid, yet she only worked a part-time job at a restaurant (I like your politically correct use of "food establishment") and subsequently lost her job. Can we get more details on why a person who can't afford private health insurance, only worked a part-time job, and lost said job, couldn't get on medicaid?

Secondly, you claim:

"Got that, teapeople? She worked for a living. Did the things that people are supposed to do, despite a debilitating health condition."

Did everything people are supposed to do? She had a child when she was 16. She had two more after that. She most likely didn't finish high school and probably didn't attend college either. Her decisions effected her ability to find a well-paying, stable job that offered her either enough money to buy private health insurance or offered health insurance as part of the job.

Consequently, she lost her job because of the illness. Why didn't she have disability insurance?

I don't understand the sob story. Why am I responsible for other people's poor choices? Why do you think it's okay to steal my resources at the point of a gun and give them to others? While the story is sad, it's not the norm and it doesn't justify a 2.4 trillion dollar unconstitutional takeover of our health care system, which consequently infringes on my own personal natural rights.

This poor child was used as a prop (as Obama calls it) by Harry Reid to make an emotional appeal (logical fallacy) to pass progressive health care reform. Us "tea people" have nothing against the child, but are disgusted by Harry Reid's misuse of a hurt child to sell his government takeover of health care.

Why tell this child's story when not even 1% of the population ever experiences this type of situation? We're going to upend 95% of the population's current health care solution because of a less than 1% occurrence of black teenage mothers not being able to afford health care and dying as a result? That's absurd.

Unfortunately, all the progressives have to argue the passage of this bill is anecdotes that appeal to emotion. Rep. Ryan already showed the poor accounting, the real initial cost, the ballooning 20+ year cost, the deficit increases, and the fact that we simply can't pay for this bill. Your own party can't get it together enough to pass it. This type of legislation has failed and been rejected by the American people since FDR.

WE DON'T WANT YOUR DEBT-RIDDEN SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE DEFORM.

[lisa r]

"She had a child when she was 16. She had two more after that. "

Wait, your side is the side that says everyone should keep babies, not abort them, right? So, yes, she did the "right thing" from your perspective. And heck, the lack of effective education about birth control might have contirbuted to this. Abstinance-only education for the win!

"Why didn't she have disability insurance?"

Because that's a luxury only affordable to those in the upper-echelon income levels. You're an elitist!

"Why am I responsible for other people's poor choices? "

"Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, that, you do unto me." (Matthew 25:40)

"Why do you think it's okay to steal my resources at the point of a gun and give them to others?"

Where's the gun, dude? And while you're telling me that, tell me how you've stopped using roads, public buildings, sidewalks, parks, and how you're going to send your Social Security checks back to the Treasury.

"Why tell this child's story when not even 1% of the population ever experiences this type of situation? We're going to upend 95% of the population's current health care solution because of a less than 1% occurrence of black teenage mothers not being able to afford health care and dying as a result? That's absurd."

How is 40,000,000 equal to 1% of 309,000,000? I think you might need a math refresher course.

Rep Ryan's accounting is bad. The CBO scored this as a deficit REDUCTION. I know already that math isn't your strong point, so I'm willing to cut you some slack there.

"WE DON'T WANT YOUR DEBT-RIDDEN SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE DEFORM."

But you'll be perfectly happy to accept socialist healthcare once you turn 65, I bet!

[Shar]

Well Kevin,arent you just the most self righteous know it all. Funny you truly know nothing. Let me enlighten you. First you already pay for those who do not have insurance and cannot afford a doctor. They use the emergency room services. Sadly enough by that time it is so severe a diagnosis the cost is huge. All due to the fact they could not afford a doctors visit. So you ALREADY PAY!
Your ignorance of what is trying to be done is straight out of the ignorant and self centered rights playbook. You people do not have a clue as to what you actually want outside of behaving badly.

This bill will give people a chance to have medical care. To live many more years and take care of their families.
You put the mother of this young man down yet you know nothing of her. Another symptom of the know nothing right.She could have been the worlds best mom.Her beautiful son obviously thought so. Because in her memory he stood up. He spoke out.
To me your whole party has shown what racist,self centered,heartless morons you are.You guys are such babies with your whining and fit throwing.
If you want to try and even understand go to the Whitehouse web site and read the bill. By the way it has been proven by the CBO that it would reduce the defecit. But like the moronic children you are you hold your ears and scream lalalalal I can't hear you.

[Kevin]

Lisa,

You're lack of logic undermines you.

Being pro-life doesn't justify people making poor choices about having sex. And the fact that she has no self-control doesn't give her or you the right to use her story as a pro-abortion argument. That's a logical fallacy.

Disability insurance is cheap, especially for a 27 year old that works for a restaurant. Why don't you pull a quote so you're not so naive.

"Where's the gun, dude?"

When I refuse to pay, armed people aren't going to show up at my door?

"And while you're telling me that, tell me how you've stopped using roads, public buildings, sidewalks, parks, and how you're going to send your Social Security checks back to the Treasury."

What's that have to do with this issue? It doesn't. Please try to stay on topic.

"How is 40,000,000 equal to 1% of 309,000,000? I think you might need a math refresher course."

There are 40,000,000 black single mothers who can't get on medicaid and can't afford insurance who are dying of chronic illness? That fact is new to me.

You're ignorant about the deficit reduction. The reason the CBO scored the bill the way they did was because of accounting gimmicks that compare 10 years of taxation to 6 years of services. Is that elementary concept too difficult for you to follow?

No, I don't support medicare either. But I'm still waiting for you to form a logical argument that supports your stance. Please try to write one that doesn't use a logical fallacy, an emotional anecdote, or a direct lie (deficit reduction).

Thanks...

[Kat]

So if I don't support your health care bill, I'm not compassionate and don't care about others?

[Kevin]

Shar,

I'm sorry, I'm trying to sift through all the name calling and posturing.

I understand I already pay for people that don't have health insurance. That's not justification for the government taking over the health insurance industry. Sorry, in the land of logic that doesn't fly.

People already have a chance to have medical care regardless of this bill. Your premise is false. The people who can't get it are a small minority, fixed by other means without a 2.4 trillion dollar health care government takeover.

None of what you've wasted time writing this far has made any coherent argument to the government seizing the health insurance industry.

While the mom in the article may have been the greatest mom on Earth, that broad assumption still doesn't change the fact that she made relatively poor decisions that contributed to her victim situation.

So now I'm racist because the emotional anecdotes don't convince me to turn our health care system into Europe's big health care cousin?

I'm waiting for ONE of you to come around and please justify this bill with a logical, educated response. Just one person on your side. Please, I beg you. The name calling, emotional anecdotes, and lack of logic are cute, but they're not getting you anywhere.

And to say this bill decreases the deficit after hearing how the medicare cuts are double counted and the bill tricks 10 years of taxation for 6 years of benefits is intellectually dishonest. If you're naive, that's understandable. If you've heard those facts before, then you're a liar. Which one is it?

[Karoli]

Kevin,

It really comes down to this: you believe its perfectly acceptable to restrict my right to pay for health insurance because my son, who I chose to have and committed to supporting while paying taxes and owning my own business, happens to have a condition which he was born with and insurers exclude him for. Theres some liberty for ya. True American values there, pal.

Sent from my iPhone

[Kevin]

Karoli,

Right to pay for health insurance? What does that even mean? You mean you have a right to health care? How is that possible?

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=525716

Do you understand what a right is? Do you understand what a good and service is? Please explain. Your definition is the opposite of liberty.

[Karoli]

Kevin,

I specifically said "the right to pay for health insurance". I did not say health care. I said health insurance.

You have just illustrated the bankrupt hypocrisy which inspired this post.

[Kevin]

Karoli,

The first sentence of my response presented the question...what does a "right to pay for health insurance" mean and where does it come from? How do you have a right to pay for health insurance?

Everything I wrote still stands. I want to know who gave you the right to pay for health insurance.

[Karoli]

Kevin, are you suggesting that I should be barred from purchase of a product available on the open market? How...un-free-enterprise-y of you.

[Kevin]

Karoli,

Who is barring you from purchasing a product on the open market?

[Karoli]

Insurance companies are barring me, Kevin. They tell me I cant buy their product. Im not privileged enough to have undamaged children.

[Kevin]

Karoli,

You're going to have to help me understand here.

In the comment before last, you said:

"Kevin, are you suggesting that I should be barred from purchase of a product available on the open market? How...un-free-enterprise-y of you."

Do you support free enterprise? Because in a free market the insurance company is free to turn you down. In a free market, you can't force a company to provide you a service. You don't have a right to the services of others.

So my question stands (that you've failed to answer three times now). Where does your "right to purchase health insurance" come from? Who granted you that right? It can't be a natural right, because natural rights can't infringe on the natural rights of others. Forcing an insurance company to provide you a service would infringe on their natural right to not enter into a contract with you.

Please help me understand.

[Diane]

Why did Medicaid turn her down if she was unemployed? Doesn't your government program treat people in need with compassion?

[Melissa]

@Kevin. Yes, the insurance company is free to turn down Karoli (and lots of others) but that doesn't solve the issue. Instead it means she could lose all her assets

Free markets just don't work with health insurance. They are an area of market failure because of imperfect information or asymetric information. In most markets you have a single large seller that can control both price and output.

National defense is another area of market failure. So we all pay taxes and get F-22s, whether we need them or not.

Also, there is a way to avoid paying "at the point of a gun." Become a tax resister. Seriously. Opt not to pay into the federal and state income tax systems and instead donate money to private charities to reduce your tax burden to zero.

[Kevin]

Melissa,

You can say free markets don't work with health insurance, but that doesn't make it so. You're going to have to provide some concrete examples.

What does paying taxes and getting F-22's have to do with the free market?

How does being a tax resister help me avoid the governments gun? Deducting donations only reduces my tax liability by my income tax rate. If my rate is 25%, donating $1000 only reduces my taxes by $250. How do I get to zero tax liability using that method?